TUB 

OFFICIVL  CHARiCTER  AND  DUTY 

OF  THE 

GOSPEL  MESSENGER ; 


Sk  s; 


l?veac\\e)3L  in  St.  Paulas  C"h\iTch,  "EiAentou 

N.  C.  APRIL  30,  1820. 

UPOIV  THE  OCCASION  OF  ADMITTIITG 

WILLIM  HOOPER  and  THOMAS/  WRIGHT, 

AS  DEACONS, 

AND 

THE  rev'd.  RICHARD  S,  MASON, 
TO  THE  HOLY  OFFICE  OF  PRIESTHOOD, 


BY  ADAM  EMPIE.  A.  M. 

Hector  of  St,  James  Clmrcli,  VVi'mington,  N.  C, 


iPapf  ttebille : 

PRINTED  BY  CAKNEY  ScDISBIUKES. 

1820. 


'a 


TO  THE  READER. 

The  Author  deems  it  an  act  o/*  justice  to 
himseifj  to  state^  that  the  following  Sermon 
was  written  without  the  remotest  -prospect 
of  its  ever  being  submitted  to  the  public^ 
and  that  it  owes  its  publication  to  the  re- 
quest  of  the  Convention  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Churchy  in  the  State  of  Norths 
Carolina. 


A  SERMON. 


Malachi— Chapter  2d,  Verse  7. 

"  The  Priest's  lips  should  keep  knowledge,  and  they  should  seek 
«'  the  law  at  his  mouth.  For  he  is  the  Messenger  of  the  Lord  of 
«  Hosts." 

Three  things,  liere,  present  themselves  to  our  notire. 
1st.  The  Official  Character  of  the  Gospel  Minister.    He  is  the 
Messenger  of  the  Lord  of  Husts. 

2d.  The  duty  of  the  Gospel  Minister.  His  lips  must  keep  know 
ledge. 

3d.  The  Duty  cf  his  Flock.  They  must  seek  the  law  at  his 
mouth. 

"We  shall  briefly  consider  these  in  the  order  stated. 

First—The  Official  Character  of  the  Gospel  Minister.— 
He  is  the  Messenger  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  He  cornes  neitlier 
unsolicited  nor  unauthorised.  -  His  authority  is  not  assumea* 
but  duly  conferred  ;  and  he  is  distinguished  from  others  by 
being  sent  as  the  Ambassador  of  Jesus  Christ.  If  he  is  sin- 
cere in  his  professions,  the  Divine  Spirit,  "•  from  whom  all 
holy  desires  proceed,"  has  inwardly  moved  and  called  him 
to  the  work  of  the  Ministry.  Those  successors  of  the  Apos 
ties,  who  are  invested  with  the  ordaining  power,  have  cIoth_ 
ed  him  with  a  valid  external  commission.  He  addresses  us, 
**^  not  as  the  ambassador  of  man,  but,  as  the  Minister  of  God, 
_  .     the  Messenger  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts.    He  comes  as  the  di* 


35 

vinely  appointed  ''legate  of  tlie  skies,"  lie  \vho  said,  "Lo 
I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  tlie  woild,"  ap- 
pointed an  order  of  men  that  was  never  to  hecome  extinct, 
and  whose  authority  was  to  he  transmitted,  through  an  nn- 
b!-  ken  line  of  ministerial  succession,  unto  the  end  of  time. 
Deriving  their  appointment  and  their  authority,  from  tliis 
source,  the  duly  ordained  and  qualified  jMinistcrs  of  the 
Gospel  do  not  take  too  much  upon  tliemsilves,  when  t]i<.y 
address  us,  in  the  language  of  the  x\postlc — "  Now  tlien  we 
are  Embassadors  for  Christ,  as  though  God  did  beseech 
you,  by  us,  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  je  reconciled 
unto  God." 

As  the  authoriUj  of  the  Gospel  Messenger,  sohis  viessage 
also,  is  divine.  For  man  to  know  the  will  of  God,  unless 
God  is  pleased  to  reveal  it.  and  to  he  authoi-ised  to  preach 
that  will,  unless  that  authority  comes  from  Heaven,  are  two 
things  equally  impossible.  God  alone,  is  competent  to  teach 
us  what  truths  we  ought  to  believe,  and  what  duties  we 
ought  to  practice.  To  guess  at  the  wil  1  of  God,  and  to  m akc 
oursel  ves,  by  our  own  authority,  the  Messengers  of  the  Lord 
of  Hosts,  would  be  equally  vain  and  presumptuous.  AViien 
an  earthly  King  sends  an  Ambassador  to  a  foreign  Court,  he 
not  only  gives  him  authority  to  act,  but  he  also  accompanies 
that  atithority  with  instructions.  A  messenger  necessarily 
implies  a  message. 

Further,  the  King  of  Heaven  would  not  send  messengei-s, 
except  upon  business  relating  to  his  Jdvgdom  ;  nor  would  he 
employ  such  agents,  except  in  matters  of  great  im-poriancC' 

Accordingly,  the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  come  in  the 
name  of  God,  to  proclaim  his  laws  and  to  manage  the  spi- 
ritual  affairs  of  his  earthly  kingdom.  Their  object  is,  to 
♦<  turn  men  from  darkness  to  light  aud  from  the  power  of 


53 
Satan  lo  serve  ilic  living  God."  Tlii.s  office  wiJl  be  neces- 
sary, as  long-  us  man  icnmiiis  a  siniiei'.  And  to  this  extent, 
has  the  gi-eat  head  of  the  Church  made  provision,  by  ap- 
pointing an  orderof  men,  who  are  to  perpetuate  themselves 
by  successively  ord&ining  olhcrs  as  long  as  time  endures  and 
M  1:0  are  to  encrease  the  luimber  of  tlieir  order,  until  the 
\v!u>Ie  earth  is  supjdied  witii  them.  For  he,  wiio  a|)pointc(l 
tho  Christiim  Embassy,  saidio  tiiem,  <'  As  my  Father  hath 
fient  me.  so  send  I  ^  ou.  Lo,  I  am  Mitli  you  always,  even  ur.- 
to  Ihe  end  of  the  world."'  And  he  accoidingly  commanded 
them,  to  ''go  and  teach  all  nations  f.nd  to  preach  the  Gospel 
to  ev(>!y  creature.."  I'hey  are  then,  the  messengers  of  the 
Lo?xi  of  Hosts,  to  proclaim  the  laws  of  his  Kingdom,  to 
leach  the  ie;noi-ant,  to  warn  the  disobedTent,  to  bring  back 
the  wanderer,  to  comfort  the  mournej-,  to  help  the  weak,  to 
subdue  the  lebelliojis^  in  line,  todispen.se  the  blessings  of 
the  New  CoAcnant  and  to  manage  all  the  visible  affairs,  of 
God's  Spiritual  Kingdom  in  this  world,  until  the  end  of 
time. 

Many  {)art.s  of  G(;d's  v.ord  and  waysaremysteriou.s;  ma- 
ny truths  and  duties  of  Religion  cannot  be  known,  excep^ 
from  Revelation,  and  many  are  neglected  oroj)posed  by  the 
unrcMicwed  heart,  because  they  cannot  be  attended  to,  with- 
out nuich  self-denial.  Bnt  God  is  desirous,  that  men  should 
so  act  as  to  sccui-e  his  fiwor.  And  as  they  are  naturally 
averse  to  tins,  in  the  multitude  of  his  mercies,  he  not  only 
bestov.s  Jipon  them  the  influences  of  his  Spirit,  but  he  also 
^ends  his  messengers  to  them,  to  persuade  them  to  v, oik  out 
tiieir  own  salvation,  and  to  dispense  to  them  all  those  sacred 
and  mysterious  truths,  which  should  habitually  infli!er)Ce 
their  conduct..  The  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  are,  therefore 
in  their  letter  of  instructions,  stiled  «*  The  Sieivards  of  the 


sr 

Mysteries  of  God."  For  they  are  sent  and  they  are  official- 
ly bound  to  dispense  his  truths,  to  administer  his  ordinan] 
ces,_and  thus  to  establish,  extend  and  perpetuate  his  Church. 
By  nature,  man  is  in  a  state  of"  enmity  against  God;'* 
and  though,  through  tlie  atoning  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  God 
is  reconcileable  to  man,  still  man  must  first  be  reconciled 
to  God,  by  submitting  to  his  government  and  by  being  cre- 
ated anew  in  his  image,  before  God  can  acknowledge  him 
as  his  child  and  deal  with  him  as  a  reconciled  Father  with 
his  penitent,  though  once  prodigal  Son.  And  this  "  min- 
istrij  oj  reconciliation,''  the  Lord  of  Hosts  has  committed  to 
his  Messengers.  They  are  sent  to  proclaim  peace  on  earth 
and  good  will  to  men,  and  to  use  all  their  influence,  to  re_ 
concile  men  to  God,  by  bringing  them  over  to  the  obedience 
of  his  laws.  They  are  sent  to  act  as  watchmen  also,  on  the 
walls  of  Zion,  to  preside  over  the  interests  of  the  Church, 
to  protect  it  from  harm,  to  repel  the  assaults  of  its  foes  and 
to  warn  tlieir  peo])le  against  dangei-,  as  well  as  to  preserve 
them  from  evil.  They  are  sent  for  '  the  edification  of  the 
tody  of  Christ,*' to  be  "ensamples  to  the  flock,"  and  help- 
ers of  their  joy,"  to  shew  the  way  in  which  they  should 
walk  and  the  work  they  should  do,  to  "  hear  the  word  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Lord,"iind  to  "give  the  people  warning;" 
to  "shew  the  people  their  transgressions  and  the  house  of 
Jacob  their  sins."  They  are  sent  to  act,  as  "  stewards  of 
the  household  of  God,'*  and  as  the  Shepherds  of  his  Flock,  to 
"  give  them  their  meat  in  due  season,"  to  "  feed  them  with 
the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,"and  with  "the  bread  of  life;" 
to  lead  them  to  that  "  fountain  of  living  water,"  which  is 
"  opened  in  the  house  of  David  for  sin  and  for  uncleanness,'* 
and  in  fine,  to  watch  over  the  spiritual  and  eternal  inter- 
ests of  all,  that  are  committed  to  their  care.    Hence  the 


38 

Lord  caut'ons  all  ln's  messensjprs, "  Take  head  to  thyself 
and  to  thy  doctrines  and  continue  in  them,  that  so  do- 
ing, thou  mayestbothsave  thyself  and  those  that  hear  thee.** 
*<Take  heed  to  thyself  and  to  the  flock  over  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  hath  made  the  Overseer  ;  warning  every  man  ahd 
teaching  every  man,  that  thou  mayest  present  every  one 
perfect  in  Christ  Tesus.'*  "  Preach  the  word,  be  instant 
in  season  and  out  of  season,"  that  is,  whether  it  be  conve- 
nient to  you  or  not.  Reprove,  rebuke,  exhoi-t  with  all  long 
suffering  and  doctrine,"  <*  Accomplish  the  work  of  an  E- 
vangelist,"  Make  full  proof  of  thy  Ministry."  «  Watch 
for  souls,  as  those  that  must  give  account." 

The  Messengers  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  are  also  sent,  as 
*'lahourers  together  with  God-,**  and  they  are  required  to  make 
themselves  "  workmen  that  need  not  to  be  ashamed  ;  right- 
ly dividing  the  word  of  truth."  By  his  providences,  by  his 
word  and  by  his  spirit,  God  is  labouring  to  reclaim  the 
Children  of  men  from  their  evil  ways,  and  to  bring  them  o- 
ver  to  the  service  of  tlie  Lord.  The  messengers  of  the  Lord 
of  Hosts  are  employed  in  this  same  work,  and  they  are  tliere- 
fore  called  "  fellow-workers  with  God."  And  as  they  la- 
bour to  bring  men  to  the  light  of  the  truth  and  to  diffuse  that 
light  abroad  over  the  whole  earth ;  as  likewise,  through 
their  instrumentality,  the  gospel  becomes  the  meansof  pre- 
serving multitudes  from  sin  and  everlasting  ruin,  they  are 
described  as  being  the  *«salt  of  the  earth,  and  the  light  of  th^ 
word,"pnd  they  are  required  to  retain  and  exercise  their 
preserving  qualities  and  to  let  their  "light  shine,  to  theglo-  . 
ry  of  their  heavenly  father." 

In  fine,  the  messengers  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  are  sent,  to 
establish,' to  preserve  and  h)  govern  the  visible  Chnrchoi  God 
on  earth,  to  manage  all  its  concerns,  to  extend  its  influence 


S9 

iiVd.  to  spread  t'le  Gospel  over  t];e  whole  T^orld,  to  explain^ 
to  teach  and  to  enforce  those  laws,  which  the  Kin.t^of  Kiiig-g 
lias  published  for  the  government  of  his  intellijjent  creatures 
in  this  section  of  his  dominions,  to  reclaim  as  many  as  pos- 
sible, ofthose  who  have  rebelled  against  his  authority  and 
his  government,  for  the  purpose  of  thus  rescuing  tljeni  from 
impending  destruction  aiid  securing  to  tliem,  through  the 
peace  speaking  blood  of  Jesus,  a  new  and  glorious  title  to 
immortal  life  and  happiness  ;  they  are  .^ent  to  direct  every 
sincere  enquirer,  to  comfort  every  penitent  mourner,  to  set 
up  a  holy  example  to  all  around  them,  administer  the  sa- 
craments and  ordinances  of  the  Church,  to  ♦«  contend  earn- 
estly for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  "  to  "  jiold 
fast  the  form  of  sound  words,"  and  all  those  invaluable  insti. 
tutions,  which  by  the  kind  providence  of  our  God,  have  been 
preserved  from  a  thousand  dangers  and  transmitted  in  safe- 
ty, to  our  times,  and  to  expose  the  errors,  unmask  the  de- 
signs and  repel  tlie  attempts  of  all  those  who  mutilate,  per 
vert  or  adulterate  tlie  blessed  word  of  God. 

Such  my  Brethren,  is  the  official  character  of  the  Gospel 
Minister.  Such  are  the  source,  the  design  and  the  extent 
of  his  authority.  He  is  the  messenger  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
and  such  is  his  message,  such  are  his  functions  and  such 
his  poAvers. 

Vfecome  now  secondly,  to  consider  the  duties  of  the  Gospel 
Minister.  His  lips  must  keej)  knowledge.  This  expresses 
but  two  main  branches  of  his  duty,  knowledge  and  teacii- 
ing  ,-  but  all  the  rest  are  impliedin  his  official  character,  and 
Hiay  with  ease  bs  inferred  from  what  has  already  been  said. 

The  first  requisite  of  every  Gospel  Mvister  is  'holiness. 
An?l  though  tliis  is  not  menMoned  in  the  tp-Kt,  it  mrtainly  is 
implied.     God  is  holy,  his  law  is  holy,  he  wishes  us  to  be- 


4t 
come  holy.  Hn  sends  his  Mosscnj^ers  to  turn  us  "  fi'om  sin 
to  holiness,"  he  reveals  "  his  wrath  aj^ainst  all  iinriglit- 
eonsness  and  unj^odlincss  of  men,"  and  he  declares,  that 
«  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."  Is  it  not 
then  necessary,  that  when  t!ie  God  of  Holiness,  employs  his 
accents  to  tnrn  men  fi-omsin  to  holiness,  those  aj;ents  should 
themselves  be  holy  ?  The  work  of  the  ministry  is  a  bo'y 
work.  Are  unholy  persons  fit  fc^r  such  employment  ?  Can 
light  and  darkness  hold  communion  to2;ether?  Can  the  chil- 
dren of  Satan  he  employed  in  erecting  the  kingdom  of  God  ? 
Can  they  preach  with  holy  zeal  against  sin,  who  themselves 
live  in  the  habitual  practice  of  it  ?  Can  they  teach  others  who 
have  never  been  taught  themselves  ?  Can  theblind  lead  tijc 
blind  ?    What  can  we  expect  from  the  unrenewed  preacher, 

but  cold,  barren,  vague  inefficient,  and  uninteresting  views  of 
faith,  repentence,  humility,  love  and  every  other  holy  du- 
ty ?  How  can  he  teach  others,  what  he  has  never  experien- 
ced himself,  and  what  cannot  be  fully  undei-stood,  excej)tby 
personal  experience?  In  fine,  how  can  he,  who  is  carnal  ia 
his  views,  over  whose  heart  is  spread  an  impenetrable  veil 
of  Ignorance  and  error,  who  is  still  walking  in  spiritual 
darkness,  how  can  such  a  one  duly  direct  the  enquirer  on 
his  way  to  Zion  ?  How  can  he  comfort  those  who  are  mourn- 
ing for  their  sins  ?  Howcan  he  teach  the  christian  in  his  sni- 
tual  warfare,  to  grajiple  with  his  spiritual  foes  ?  How  caa 
he,  adequately  describe  those  holy  tempers,  qualities  and 
dispositions,  and  those  pious  exercises  of  heart,  to  which  he 
is  an  utter  stranger  ?  Above  all,  how  can  he  set  them  a  god- 
ly example  ?  Unholy  Ministers  cannot  properly  do  these 
things,  and  even  if  they  had  the  ability,  they  have  not  the 
disposition  and  they  cannot,  therefore,  discharge  their  du- 
ties as  Messengers  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts.     Holiness  of  heart 


42 

and  life  ther,  is  essciitiailj  necessary  to  the  Gospel  Mes» 
scngcr. 

Besides,  no  one  can  be  in  the  full  sense  of  the  expression, 
a  Messen^^erof  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  unless  he  is  called  and 
^ent  hif  the  Lord,  as  well  as  by  man.  He  must  be  ouhvard- 
hj  *^  called  of  God,  as  was  ^ar on ^^  and  he  muRtbe  f*  inward. 
hj  mored  hy  the  holy  Ghost,"  as  he  professes  to  be  in  the 
•^rdination  service.  If  he  has  been  ordained  by  those  who 
derive  their  ordaining  po^Yer  in  a  directline  iromthe  Apos- 
tles, he  has  indeed  an  outward  and  a  valid  call  to  ministe- 
rial labours.  He  may  be  quite  useful,  and  as  long  as  he  is 
not  Sagrantly  deficient,  \ve  are  bound  to  respect  him  as  the 
Messenger  of  tlie  Lord  of  Hosts.  But  nevertheless,  if  he  is 
not  honest  and  zealous  and  faithful  in  the  sacred  cause,  from 
a  love  of  God,  a  love  of  Religion  and  a  love  of  Souls,  he 
never  has  been  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  never  has  re. 
ceived  an  inward  call  from  God  ;  and  as  long  as  he  con- 
tinues in  tliis  state,  God  may  indeed  bless  his  labours  to  o- 
thers  but  he  will  never  regard  them  as  an  acccptiblc  ser- 
vice on  his  own  account  ;  and  though  he  should  say  "Lord, 
Lord,  have  I  not  prophecicd  in  thy  nan?,e,  and  in  thy  name, 
cast  out  devils  and  in  thy  r^ame,  done  many  ^^onderfal 
\vorks  ;  he  must  expect  the  appalling  answer,  "  I  never 
knew  you,  depart  from  me,  ye  that  work  iniquity.'* 

Holiness  of  heart  and  life  are  then,  necessary  qualifica- 
tions for  the  oSicial  characters  of  the  Lords  Messengers. 
Though  others  may  be  outwardly  called,  the  Spirit  of  God 
would  inwardly  call  none  but  such  j  nor  should  any  re- 
ceive or  apply  for  ordination,  until  they  are  conscious  of 
such  holy  desires  and  resolutions  to  serve  God,  in  his  Chui'chj 
^Jiat  they  have  reason  to  believe  and  declare  themselves, 
<«  called  and  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  the  work  of  the 
iMinistrv 


Let  it  then  be  repeated,  holiness  of  heart  and  life  are  ne- 
cessary ill  the  onicial  character  of  the  Lord's  Messcngci's, 
hccsLixsQ  they  cannoi  vroperlij  ddivcr  their  message  or  fulfil 
their  mission  without  them.  They  are  required  to  he  '•^hobjy^ 
to  »'  take  heed  to  themselves  and  tlieir  doctrine,"  and  to  set 
a  hoJy  example  before  their  ilocks.  They  are  required  as 
faithful  Stewards,  to  tlispciisc  the  mysteries  of  God,  to  '-feed 
the  lambs  and  the  shcon,"  to  be  the  "  salt  of  the  earth  and 
the  lii^'ht  of  the  world.'*  These  duties  they  cannot  possibly 
perform  unless  their  hearts  and  lives  are  devoted  to  God's 
service.  Finally,  the  messengers  of  the  Lord  should  be 
holy  men,  because  this  is  expressly  required  of  them,  under 
the  severest  penalties.  "  Be  ye  holy,  that  bear  the  vessels 
of  tlie  Lord."  "  Thou,  0  man  of  God,  follow  after  right" 
eousness,  godliness,  faith,  love,  patience,  meekness."  "Be 
thou  an  example  to  believers,  in  word,  in  conversation,  in 
charity,  in  spirit,  in  faitlj,  in  purity."  *'ln  all  things  shev/ 
thyself  a  pattern  of  good  \Yorks."  «  Wo  to  the  Shepherds 
that  feed  not  the  flock."  "  Wo  be  to  the  pastors  that  de- 
stroy and  scatter  the  Sheep  of  my  pasture  saith  the  Lord." 
"  Wo  unto  you  ye  blind  guides." 

The  second  requisite  of  the  Gospel  Minister  is  hnow'edge. 
We  use  this  word  here,  in  a  restricted  sense.  In  scriptuve 
and  in  our  text,  it  has  a  very  extensive  signification.  The 
Minisier  cf  the  Gospel  ought  to  have  an  experimental,  as  well 
as  ascientifc  knowledge  of  religion.  His  knowledge  ought 
to  arise,  not  only  from  memory  and  reasoning  but  also  from 
''his  own  consciousness.  And  when  he  speaks  of  repentance 
and  faith  of  humility  and  charity,  of  the  love  and  the  fear  of 
God,  of  the  Christian's  hopes  and  joys  and,  prospects,  of  his 
spiritual  struggles,  his  holy  tempers  and  the  heavenly  ex- 
ercise of  his  heart,  the  messenger  of  the  Lord  ought  to  be 


44 
able  to  understand  and  illustrate  all  these  from  his  own  his- 
tory, character  and  personal  experience,  as  well  as  from 
observation,  tlis  testimony  of  others  and  the  word  of  God. 
And  both  these  kinds  of  knowledge  are  intended  in  the  text. 
But  the  former  has  already  been  considered  under  holiness 
of  jicart,  and  the  latter  is  only  apart  of  the  knowledge  we 
possess.  Besides  that  knowledge  which  may  be  collected 
from  experience  as  well  as  from  scripture,  there  is  much 
other  knowledge  with  which  every  Minister  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  ought  to  be  familiar.  And  whatever  piety  or  zeal 
may  be  alleged  in  extenuation,  the  literary  ignorai»ce  of 
many  \Aho  undertake  to  preach  the  Gospel,  is  evei-y  vi here 
producing  the  most  lamentable  effects  and  is  an  evil,  against 
which,  the  Church  of  God,  o^ight  to  raise  the  most  effectual 
and  competent  barriers. 

llany  stand  always  ready  to  weaken  the  influence  of  our 
labours  by  doubting,  disputing  and  denying  the  trutli  of  re- 
velation and  we  ought  theiefore  to  be  able  to  '*  stop  the 
mouths  of  gainsayers;  "  "  to  give  a  reason  for  the  hope 
that  is  in  us;"  to  hold  the  infidel  up  to  view,  in  all  his  weak- 
ness; to  expose  all  his  artifices,  substitutes  and  sophistry;  to 
hunt  him  from  every  point  at  which  he  takes  his  stand,  and 
from  every  subterfuge  under  which  he  conceals  the  weak- 
ness of  his  cause  and  to  establish  the  truth  of  the  holy  ora- 
cles upon  the  broad  basis  of  reason  and  philosophy,  of  histo- 
ry and  fact. 

Multitudes  disfigure,  prevent  and  "render  of  none  effect, 
the  word  of  God,"  by  their  bold,  their  ignorant  and  their 
licentious  interpretations  ;  while  others  cavil  at  its  myste- 
ries, deny  its  spirituality  or  fritter  it  down  into  a  spiritless 
syslem  of  morals.  As  we  are  bound  to  "  hold  fast  the  form 
of  sound  words,"  and  "  sharply  to  rebuke  those  who  ar* 


45 

not  sound  in  the  faitli,"  as  all  perversion  of  scripture  is  more 
or  less  dangerous  to  morals  and  piety,  and  as  we  cannot 
*<  fulfil  our  ministry,'*  unless  we  guard  cur  flocks  against 
the  errors,  the  d :;n:;'ers  and  tlie  temptations  that  surround 
them,  we  ought,  ifpossihle.  to  be  so  universally  and  min- 
utely acquainted  with  the  scriptures,  both  in  the  originals 
and  the  translation,  as  to  be  able,  satisfactorily,  to  expose 
all  error  and  enthusiasm,  to  answer  every  argument  and  ob- 
jection that  are  adduced  in  their  support,  and  to  c^btablish 
every  scriptural  truth  and  duty,  by  the  sober  canons  of  sa- 
bred criticism,  and  by  a  particular  reference  to  that  which 
mast  decide  all  religious  controversy,  «  the  law  and  th« 
testimony." 

Much  knowledge  too  is  necessary,  to  enable  us  to  an- 
s\yer  all  the  objections,  to  remove  all  the  difficulties,  to  ex- 
ptise  all  the  errors  and  to  relieve  as  fiir  as  possible,  the  spi- 
ritual wants  ahd  maladies  of  our  flocks.  Without  much  ex- 
j)eriniental,  mucli  scriptural  and  much  general  knowledge, 
our  stock  will  soon  be  exhausted,  we  shall  do  little  more 
than  travel  the  same  beaten  tiack  over  and  over  again,  and 
our  hearers  will  be  compelled  to  suffer  for  our  mental  im- 
potence and  literary  sterility.  ; 

Much  critical,  historical,  theological,  scriptural  and  ex-^ 
experimental  knowledge  then,  is  necessary  to  enable  the 
Messengers  of  the  Lord  to  perform  their  duty.  As  they  are 
not  authoiized  to  preach,  unless  they  are  called  of  God  and 
duly  ordained  by  man,  so  they  are  not  qualified  to  preach, 
unless  they  have  something  more  than  mere  piety  and  zeal 
and  a  little  imperfect  knowledge  of  scripture,  to  recommend 
them. 

The  Priest's  lips  should  keep  knowledge.  This  does  not 
mean  merely,  that  the  Priest  should  possess  knowledge,  but 
also  that  he  should  xisc  it,  for  the  benefit  of  the  people.  Our 


4G 
piety,  our  knowledge  and  our  zeal  should  all  be  employed  in 
the  service  of  God  and  of  his  Church.  Our  flocks  stand  in 
need  of  all  the  instruction  we  can  possibly  give  them,  and 
all  the  knowledge  we  possess,  is  to  be  laid  out  to  their  ad- 
vantage, both  in  public  and  in  private.  We  must  let  our 
light  shine.  We  must  improve  our  talents,  and  make  full 
proof  of  our  ministry. 

My  Brethren,  has  the  Lord  of  Hosts  sent  his  own  Mes- 
sengers to  address  you  ?  Has  be  given  it  in  charge,  that  the 
Priest's  lips  should  keep  knowledge — that  they  should  not 
satisfy  themselves  with  ignorant,  ur. substantial  and  declam- 
atory discourses,  but  that  they  should  be  competent  to  "han- 
dle the  word  of  God"  ably  and  wisely  ?  Remember,  all  this 
is  for  your  edification,  and  yoii  are  required  to  seek  the  law 
at  our  mouth.  This  is  the  third  head  of  discourse.  If  the 
Priest's  lips  must  keep  knowledge,  it  is  that  the  people  should 
seek  the  law  at  his  mouth. 

The  law  of  God,  my  brethren,  contains  the  rule  of  our  con- 
duct— the  statutes  of  Jehovah's  kingdom,  by  which  we  are 
to  be  governed  and  judged.  And  though  every  one  ought  to 
be  familiar  with  these  laws,  because  they  are  of  infinite  im- 
portance and  easy  to  be  had  and  understood,  yet  man  is  prone 
to  neglect  them,  to  misunderstand  them,  to  misapply  them  ; 
^)ronc  to  undervalue  and  to  find  fault  with  them,  and  so  prone 
to  disobey  them,  that  he  breaks  them  from  day  to  day.  High 
and  dreadful  as  are  the  sanctions  and  penalties  they  contain ; 
great  and  glorious  as  are  the  blessings  they  promise  ;  rea- 
sonable and  useful  and  necessary  as  is  our  compliance  with 
their  demands — still,  through  forgetfiilncss  and  through  our 
natural  aversion  to  the  spirituality  and  the  restraints  of  the 
holy  laws  of  God,  we  are  constantly  in  need  nf  being  remind- 
ed of  them,  and  urged  to  obey  them. 


47 

Now,  this  is  the  main  purpose  for  which  the  Lord  of  Hosts 
sends  us  his  Messengers  ;  and  wc  ought  therefore,  to  "take 
the  more  earnest  heed  to  what  they  say."  They  are  sent  to 
promote  our  spiritual  and  everlasting  good,  and  wc  ought 
therefore  to  receive  and  listen  to  them  witli  gratitude  and 
pleasure.  It  is  the  love  of  God  that  sends  them_  His  anx- 
iety to  make  us  holy,  in  order  to  prepare  us  for  future  hap 
piness,  induces  him  to  employ  tliem  in  the  cause 
of  our  salvation.  And  as  it  is  reasonable  for  us  to  love  hap- 
piness and  to  dread  misery,  it  is  equally  reasonable  tliat  wo 
should  eagerly,  joyfully  and  thankfully  hail  and  receive  the 
Messengers  of  the  Lord.  To  he  deprived  of  them  is  a  sore 
judgment,  and  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  a  pious,  learned  and 
evangelical  ministry  is,  next  to  life,  the  greatest  of  human 
blessings. 

Divine  Providence  has  blessed  you,  my  brethren,  with  a 

settled  Pastor.     I  pray  you  remember  that  he  is  the  Messen- 
ger of  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  and  that  it  is  youi-  duty  to  seek  the 
law  at  his  mouth.     Both  in  public  and  in  private,  respect 
his  character  and  office,  for  they  are  sacred.     Give  heed  to 
his  instructions,  for  he  delivers  a  message  from  God.     At- 
tend regularly  to  his  ministrations,  for  he  is  appointed  to 
watch  over  your  souls  and  to  feed  ymi  with  the  bread  of  life. 
His  duties  are  awfully  great,  responsible  and  holy — assist, 
encourage  and  deal  tenderly  and  liberally  with  him.     Re- 
member, he  teaches  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  God, 
and  you  will  have  to  answer  in  the  day  of  judgment,  for  the 
i!se  you  make  of  his  instructions.     Seek  the  law,  therefore, 
at  his  mouth,  both  in  public  and  in  private.     Have  yoa  dif- 
ficulties, or  doubts,  or  fears — do  you  need  instruction,  ad- 
vice or  comfort — behold  your  Shepherd,  your  guide,  your 

counsellor,  your  friend,  your  comforter.  Seek  at  his  mouth* 
publicly  and  privately,  that  you  may  learn,  both  your  spir- 
itual interests,  and  your  spiritual  duties. 


48 

My  RevM.  Brother,  and  yoa  my  Brethren,  wha  are  now 
to  be  admitted  to  the  Holy  order  of  Deacons,  the  vows  of  God 
already  are,  or  soon  will  be  upon  yoiT.  Great  as  is  the  Lord 
of  FTosts,  whose  Messen.i^ers  you  become,  inestimably  im- 
portant as  are  the  souls  that  may  be  committed  to  your 
char.i^p,  awful  as  is  the  account  which  you  must  one  day  ren- 
der to  3'our  God,  so  great,  so  important  and  so  awful  are 
yo'ir  high  and  holy  duties.  Immortal  souls  will  be  entrust- 
ed to  your  care,  and  you  will  be  to  them,  the  "  savour  of 
life"  or  "  of  death."  If  with  holy  ^eal  and  a  heart  cruci- 
f  ed  to  the  world,  you  faithfully  discharge  your  sacred  trust, 
the  divine  blessing  will  rest  upon  your  labours — you  will 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  work  of  the  Lord  prosper  in 
your  hands — through  your  instrumentality,  many  will  be 
converted  unto  God,  and  in  that  day,  when  the  Lord  Jesus 
<«  makes  up  his  jewels,"  having  turned  many  to  righteous- 
ness, you  will  "shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and 
as  the  stars  forever  and  ever," 

On  the  contrary,  should  you  evince  yourself  the  faithless 
Shepherd — should  you  act  the  part  of  the  hireling,  who  nei- 
ther feeds,  nor  watches  over  the  flock — many  poor  souls 
would  perish,  but  their  blood  would  be  required  at  your 
hands.  I  beseech  you  therefore,  brethren,  that  you  strive, 
habitually,  to  keep  alive  in  your  hearts,  a  deep  sense  of  the 
infinite  value  of  souls,  of  the  importance  of  your  duties,  and 
of  your  awful  responsibility.  Whatever  yon  do,  wherever 
you  go,  carry  with  you  a  holy  solicitude  for  the  immortal  in- 
terests of  your  flock  ;  and  never  cease  your  labour,  your  care 
and  diligence,  until  ymi  have  done  all  thai  lieth  in  yon,  to 
bring  all  that  are  committed  to  your  charge,  to  agreement  in 
the  faith  and  knowledge  of  God,  and  to  ripeness,  and  perfect- 
ness  of  age  in  Christ. 

Tims,  through  God's  mercy  in  Christ,  will  you  "  both 
save  yourself  and  those  who  hear  you ;"  and  when  the  great 


I 
49 

Shephori!  of  the  Sheep  appeareth,  you  will  be  abls  to  render 
i?i  "your*  account  with  joy,"  and  hear  that  blessed  sentence 
from  the  lips  of  your  Judge — "Well  done,  thou  good  and 
faithful  servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joys  of  thy  Lord." 


NO  TICUy  IS  hereby  given  that  t/ie 
wex^  Annual  Convention  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  Norths  Carolina,  will 
he  holden  on  Saturday  the  2Sth  day  of  A" 
pril  1821  at  11  o^ clock  in  the  forenoon,  in 
the  City  of  Raleigh*  All  those  concerned 
will  govern  themselves  accordingly. 

GREGORY T.  BEDELL,  Sec'y. 
,  Of  the  Convention. 


^9 


